#MotivationMonday: 9 Years Ago, Polina Semionova Gave Us This Advice

July 10, 2016

For this #MotivationMonday, we mined the “Reverence” section of Pointe‘s back issues. Read on for inspiration from some of your favorite dancers. This years-old advice is timeless!


Photo by Jack Devant via JackDevant.com.

“Being a professional is not an easy life. Students need to ask themselves if they really want to do that, because it takes up your whole life. But for me, it still is the best profession!”

Polina Semionova, Staatsballett Berlin (February/March 2007)


Photo via the Carlos Acosta International Dance Foundation.

“Persevere and work harder every day; do extra hours if need be.”

Carlos Acosta, Royal Ballet (June/July 2008)


Kotchetkova with Tiit Helimets in Yuri Possokhov’s Swimmer. Photo by Erik Tomasson via Bachtrack.

“A walk in the mountains, a good movie, a great conversation. You can find inspiration all around you.”

Maria Kochetkova, San Francisco Ballet (June/July 2009)


Kistler with Jared Angle. Photo by Paul Kolnik via Los Angeles Times.

“If you’re passionate and you love it, continue. If you’re halfway, there are so many other wonderful things out there to do. I go back to what Mr. Balanchine said: You have to be willing to die for it. It cannot be a maybe.”

Darci Kistler, New York City Ballet (June/July 2010)


With Guillaume Côté. Photo by David Cooper via Times Union.

“It’s more than just dancing at a higher level. You have to remember it’s not only about you, even if you’re in the spotlight. You must share yourself with the whole company. You gather that energy so they’re involved with you, so there’s a dialogue. Then it becomes more real and exciting for the audience.”

Xiao Nan Yu, National Ballet of Canada (June/July 2011)


Photo by Valeria Komissarova via Pinterest.

“Physically speaking, I don’t think I was talented. It was more about work every day. Work, more work and yet more work. There’s no upper limit—you can always go further.”

Ekaterina Kondaurova, Mariinsky Ballet (December 2013/January 2014)